The song will appear on the film’s official score.
You can now listen to Jennifer Lawrence sing Katniss Everdeen's haunting ballad ‘The Hanging Tree’ from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 soundtrack online . The song will appear on the score album for the film, due for release on November 24th.
Lawrence as Katniss in The Hunger Games
The song begins with Lawrence singing a cappella until an orchestra and a choir kick in. The track was arranged by composer James Newton with help from Colorado folk rockers, The Lumineers.
In the film it is said that Lawrence’s character Katniss Everdeen learned the song from her father as a child and sang it a young age until her mother banned it after she was caught with sister Prim making necklaces out of rope. The tune's dark lyrics take on a new meaning to Katniss later in her life, when the Capitol's punishment weighs heavily on her.
More: Ok, So Is 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1' Any Good?
Speaking to AOL the film’s director, Francis Lawrence said that Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins had written the song's lyrics with the idea that it was an old Appalachian folk song Katniss' father had taught her.
Listen to Jennifer Lawrence sing 'The Hanging Tree'
"So I knew we needed a melody like that. And the Lumineers had written a really beautiful song for the Catching Fire soundtrack, and I thought they could probably tackle something like that if they were interested," he told AOL. "So I called them up...and the next day they sent me a recording of somebody whistling the tune and also a woman singing it. And it was perfect.”
However J-Law wasn’t too keen on the idea of singing herself, but to build up her confidence, the director sent Lawrence to a vocal coach to help prepare her for recording the song live.
More: Jennifer Lawrence Opens Up How The Paparazzi Make Her "Feel Scared"
"She can actually sing in key," said Francis Lawrence. "She feels very vulnerable about singing, and she knew she was going to have to sing all day," he said. "Jen was not happy that she had to sing it all day long, and she cried a little bit in the morning.”
Well for what it's worth Jennifer we think you did a fantastic job!
The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part One was released on November 21st in the US
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